Chapter 1726: Purple Lightning

Han Li's expression shifted upon seeing the gate, but without hesitation, he moved, transforming into a blurry phantom that vanished from the spot.

The next moment, a green blur flashed before the radiant gate, and Han Li was already inside. The giant ape puppet swayed and followed closely.

Almost immediately after the puppet disappeared into the radiant gate, the black-blue orb floating in the air where they had been buzzed, its surface shimmering with strange light before erupting into a blinding flash.

The vast silk net that had enveloped the entire plaza shattered without warning, disintegrating into specks of spiritual light that vanished.

Consequently, the tall radiant gate flashed wildly with white light a few times, and the nearby space twisted and blurred, then also disappeared.

Everything in the plaza returned to its previous, undisturbed state.

However, Han Li and the giant ape puppet were nowhere to be seen, as if they had never been there.

Meanwhile, at the stone steps outside the palace gates, Shi Shikun was only a little over a hundred steps from the mountain peak, already vaguely able to see the wide-open palace entrance.

Liu Shui'er had also reached a point several hundred steps below.

Both, already aware that Han Li had entered the palace, appeared calmer; their expressions settled.

Han Li reopened his slightly narrowed eyes, clearly assessing his current situation.

Having emerged from the radiant gate, he found himself directly in front of the grand purple-gold hall.

The main hall's door looked ordinary, also forged from purple-gold material, with only some rough, simple patterns engraved on its surface. However, above the door hung a massive seven or eight-zhang-long plaque inscribed with several golden ancient characters. As Han Li gazed intently, his heart stirred.

Although he couldn't decipher the ancient characters, they gave him a familiar feeling, similar to the Silver Seal Script, indicating they were likely Golden Seal Script.

Unfortunately, individuals knowledgeable in Golden Seal Script were exceedingly rare in the Spirit Realm, and he had never had the opportunity to learn it.

Otherwise, he might have been able to discern something from these ancient characters.

As Han Li pondered this, he glanced at the tightly shut door, then mentally prompted the giant ape beside him.

The puppet strode forward, ascended a few steps, and reached the main hall's entrance. It raised its hands and pressed against the door, intending to push it open just as it had opened the previous palace gates.

This time, however, Han Li's plan clearly failed. It came to naught.

The moment the giant ape's hands touched the seemingly ordinary hall door, several low rumbling sounds emanated from it, followed by a continuous roar. An aura of devastating power permeated from the door.

"No!" Although a dozen zhang away from the main gate, Han Li secretly cried out upon seeing this scene. Without thinking, a crackle of lightning erupted from his body, and a layer of azure-white thunder armor manifested, enveloping and protecting him.

He then twisted his upper body; his lower body made no movements, but his feet flashed as he slid to one side.

His movements were silent and ghost-like.

Almost simultaneously, the main hall door flashed with dazzling purple light, and eerie purple electric arcs emerged. With a flicker, they transformed into dozens of purple snakes that shot out from the door.

The giant ape puppet, being so close, was instantly engulfed by the electric light, dissipating into a puff of green smoke.

These purple electric arcs showed no intention of stopping; with a spring, they all surged towards Han Li, who had evaded to the side, as if they possessed their own sentience.

Han Li's expression changed drastically.

Had there been no anti-flight restrictions, he could naturally have used various mystical evasion techniques to calmly avoid them. But now, unable to fly, even with his exceptionally agile physical body, he could never truly evade the incoming lightning strike.

With his thoughts racing, he hastily raised a hand, and a crystalline small shield appeared before him.

With a flash of light, the small shield instantly grew to a zhang in size.

Next, as a surge of black energy swirled around Han Li, a ferocious demon armor emerged within the azure-white electric arcs, completely encasing Han Li's body.

It was precisely the Heavenly Fiend Armor, which he had fully repaired.

As the purple lightning intensified, dozens of purple snakes crashed head-on into the giant shield.

This crystal shield could distort attacks and had displayed great power in Han Li's hands on several occasions, earning him many merits.

This time, however, the situation was vastly different.

These purple electric arcs were clearly very different from ordinary lightning. Despite the crystalline giant shield's mystical properties, it only managed to force about a third of the arcs to split off to its sides.

The remaining major portion of the attack still struck it squarely.

As the purple electricity exploded, a terrifyingly scorching aura instantly enveloped the giant shield.

An unbelievable scene unfolded.

The shield rapidly dissolved under the embrace of the purple electric arcs, turning into transparent crystalline liquid in the blink of an eye, which then fell to the ground and vanished.

Han Li was horrified. Without thinking, he formed a hand seal, and his thunder armor immediately rumbled, transforming into an azure-white electric net that surged out and intertwined with the purple electric arcs.

The electric arcs formed by his thunder armor were condensed by Han Li from airborne tribulation clouds, so their power was naturally extraordinary, far beyond that of ordinary lightning or fire.

However, after the two colors of electric arcs intertwined and flashed wildly a few times, the azure-white immediately diminished and vanished, completely devoured by the purple lightning arcs, which consequently glowed even brighter.

Han Li's face paled. He hastily swung both sleeves forward again, and thunder rumbled once more as thick golden electric arcs were about to shoot out. But this action was clearly a bit late; the purple electric arcs suddenly condensed into several bolt-like blasts, each as thick as a bowl, and with a flash, they violently struck the Heavenly Fiend Armor on Han Li's body.

With an earth-shattering boom, Han Li stumbled, his entire body engulfed by streaks of purple lightning. But he immediately let out a low, startled roar of fury; his demon armor instantly expanded, and the black patterns on its surface appeared to come alive, transforming into dense black runes that emerged and collided with the purple electric arcs.

These seemingly inconspicuous runes possessed power far beyond imagination. Upon contact with the purple electric arcs, both simultaneously exploded, then transformed into gusts of hot, black and purple strange winds that wildly danced around Han Li.

When Han Li's feet stabilized and he stood upright, not only did the purple electric arcs vanish into thin air, but the strange winds also suddenly dispersed.

Han Li exhaled a long breath, looked at the Heavenly Fiend Armor on his body, and inwardly felt a surge of luck.

Had he not repaired this demon armor beforehand, the unexpected attack just now, even if it couldn't truly kill him, would have certainly inflicted a severe injury, which would have been truly unavoidable.

Even so, he appeared disheveled and quite flustered.

Han Li sighed, glancing at the transparent liquid on the ground, feeling an even greater sense of regret.

With the crystal shield destroyed in such a manner, there was naturally no possibility of repairing it.

Glancing at the main hall door, which had returned to stillness, Han Li's eyes flickered, revealing hesitation.

The main hall door possessed such powerful restrictions; it must contain something highly valued by ancient immortals. However, the restrictions were so terrifying that even if he could break them, it wouldn't be in a short amount of time. Lingering here for so long would likely result in Shi Shikun and the other person arriving and reaping the benefits, which would be truly counterproductive.

Having made up his mind, Han Li no longer hesitated. He immediately turned, following a nearby stone path, and headed towards the closest side hall.

He reasoned that even if there were restrictions there, they wouldn't be as formidable as those here, and he should have a chance to enter.

As he rapidly moved, he shook his sleeve, and a ball of green light flew out, releasing another giant ape puppet. Learning from the previous lesson, this puppet was released almost touching the ground, landing steadily.

Under Han Li's command, the second puppet also strode towards the side hall.

Han Li followed closely, expressionless.

As he advanced along the stone path, no further incidents occurred, and Han Li successfully reached the side hall.

This side hall appeared to be only a third of the main hall's size, but both its style and materials were identical to the main hall. Even the side hall's door was merely scaled down slightly, and it also bore a plaque inscribed with Golden Seal Script.

Gazing at the seemingly ancient side hall door, Han Li's eye twitched a few times. After a brief consideration, he shifted and retreated some distance, stopping a full forty zhang away from the side hall.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, several unusual talismans appeared in his hand, which he quickly slapped onto his body. Immediately, multiple layers of colorful protective shields materialized one after another.

Han Li then secretly formed a hand seal within his sleeves, and a low rumble emanated as golden electric arcs flickered in and out of existence.

Having made all necessary preparations, Han Li, with a solemn expression, urged the puppet forward.

The giant ape immediately moved forward, raising its two massive arms and pressing its hands directly against the door.

Han Li couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Creak!" With a sound, the two large doors slowly opened. This door, surprisingly, had no restrictions whatsoever.

Han Li was naturally overjoyed at this sight. However, to be cautious, he didn't act immediately. Instead, he continued to control the puppet, sending it in first.

Only after the giant ape puppet entered the hall and remained unharmed did he truly feel relieved.

Instantly, a flash of spiritual light appeared on his body, and the several layers of protective shields formed by the talismans instantly disintegrated and vanished. At the same time, after quickly clenching his fists, the golden electric arcs in his sleeves also silently disappeared.

He strode forward, heading directly for the side hall entrance.

When Han Li finally entered the side hall, the giant ape puppet stood motionless by the door, waiting.

His gaze swept quickly across the interior of the hall; he had taken in almost everything and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

Directly in front of the main part of the hall was a massive, jade-white offering table.

On the table stood a sparkling purple divine bird, its interior gleaming with light, and faintly discernible within it was a blurry divine statue.

Facing the divine statue were hundreds of cream-colored meditation cushions, and at each of the hall's four corners stood a green incense burner.

A faint scent of sandalwood filled the entire hall.